1
Importance of Shared Governance
Brief Paper: Shared Governance Assignment
Understanding the Importance of Shared Governance During a Time of Crisis
Sarah Athearn
School of Education, Liberty University
2
Importance of Shared Governance
Understanding the Importance of Shared Governance During a Time of Crisis
Abstract
Understanding the success of a company, organization, or institution is not solely from
the creation of the unit, but knowing all the factors that go into the everyday functioning and the
importance of implementing governing boards. For an organization like a university, a board’s
purpose is set up to help the institution to stay on task, to evaluate and judge issues fairly, and
monitor and mediate the structure of working function by balancing the university’s mission and
vision. Without a board of governors or trustees, organizations can fail as there would be too
many people involved with differing views on how to approach challenges, issues, and crisis if
those events were to arise. Further understanding the duties of a well-functioning board can help
further the success of a university when presented with curriculum changes, campus protocols in
every department, discipline, and division, but most importantly in a time of crisis or chaos.
Seeking biblical counsel by implementing biblical principles in a board’s mission and vision can
help establish well thought out policies to govern by and execute.
How Governing Board Members Should Work Together During Crisis
First and foremost, education board members should be serving on a board for the
betterment of education and for the betterment of the students. Boards are set up to help an
institution, business, or committee stay on task, to evaluate and judge issues fairly, and monitor
and mediate the structure of working function by balancing the organization’s mission and
